Bickell acknowledges wake-up call

After sitting game, physical winger eager to make amends

COLUMBUS — When Bryan Bickell found out he was a healthy scratch for the Blackhawks' last game it didn't come as much of a surprise to the winger.

Bickell sat out his first contest of the season during Tuesday night's 3-0 loss to the Blues after failing to record a point in the Hawks' three previous games and recording a minus-3 plus-minus rating during that span.

"I had been struggling the last couple of games and I knew that," Bickell said after Wednesday's practice in Columbus. "I suspected it was coming. (Coach Joel Quenneville) just wants me fired up, to get ready for the next game and to prove myself that I can be a better, more consistent player. It was kind of a reality check never to take anything as likely and to work hard."

After a strong start to the season, when he had points in four of the Hawks' first give games, Bickell has been a non-factor offensively with just one goal in his last 11. The 25-year-old also has struggled at the other end of the ice as a team-worst minus-6 indicates.

"I've been thinking too much and gripping the stick too tight," said Bickell, who skated on a line with Marcus Kruger and Michael Frolik during practice. "I just have to play my game, which is to be physical and be in the corners."

Man in the middle: Quenneville continues to search for the right formula to pull the Hawks out of their power-play abyss. After an 0-for-4 performance against the Blues, the Hawks are last in the league, going 5 of 57 for a horrid 8.8 percent success rate.

Enter Steve Montador.

The defenseman was inserted into the second power-play unit as a forward and will set up shop in front of opposing goaltenders.

"It's a great opportunity to work the front of the net (and) crash and bang," said Montador, who has two career power-play goals. "The goal is to get the puck in the net and if it means battling and creating space I'll do what it takes."

Tough stuff:John Scott was frustrated he couldn't get the Blues' Ryan Reaves to drop the gloves after the winger leveled Patrick Kane with a big hit. Later, Reaves dropped the gloves with Daniel Carcillo.

"He took a run at Kane and he fought Carcillo and he's what, 60 pounds heavier than Carcillo," Scott said of Reaves. "If he wants to fight someone, he should fight someone in his weight class and that's me. He always has been scared of me."

While Scott has worked hard to improve his skating, his primary duty is to provide protection for teammates. But opponents won't take on the hulking defenseman.

"I can't find a fight for the life of me this year," said the 6-feet-8, 270-pounder. "It has been a frustrating year in that regard. I don't know what I have to do."

One-timer:Dave Bolland is questionable for Thursday night's game against the Blue Jackets after taking a puck off his right foot on a Ian Cole shot in the second period. Bolland finished the game and Quenneville on Wednesday called the center "day-to-day."